On Friday, October 23, 2026, at approximately 12:13 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash involving a single vehicle in the 1000 block of Longfellow Boulevard. Just prior to the crash, a grey GMC SUV was traveling southbound on Longfellow Boulevard when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway and impacted a traffic control signpost. It continued downhill off the roadway until it came to a rest at/in the shoreline of Lake Bonny.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Units, Polk County Fire Rescue, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on scene to provide life-saving measures. On-scene medical personnel transported the driver to Lakeland Regional Health, where, despite the best efforts of medical professionals was pronounced as deceased.
While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, preliminary evidence indicates the driver of the GMC may have been experiencing a medical episode.
Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down for approximately two hours while the scene was processed. This remains an open and active investigation.
If anyone has additional information regarding the crash, please contact investigating Officer Justin Claxon at [email protected].
The driver of the GMC:
Male
Age: 57
Lakeland, FL
At this time, the deceased’s name is not being released pending notification of next-of-kin.